Embracing Our Adaptive Intelligence

In this presentation, Andrea Clarke, Work Futurist & Author, shares key lessons from her career, spanning high-stakes journalism, humanitarian aid and lobbying. She highlights the power of trust in high-performance teams and introduced the concept of Adaptive Intelligence (AQ) – the human ability to navigate and thrive in constant change. While businesses focus on AI and productivity, Andrea argues that adaptability within teams is the most critical factor in delivering successful transformation.

Using real-world examples, Andrea explores why people resist change, from biological wiring to fear of loss, and how leaders can overcome these barriers. She illustrated the dangers of rigidity with a striking story of a woman ignoring an approaching wildfire due to her ingrained routine. In contrast, an Army veteran who anticipated the risk and adapted his home survived unscathed. These examples underscored that true leadership isn’t just reacting to change but anticipating and shaping it.

Andrea concluded…